Flowing Tears come from Saarbrucken, Germany, and they’ve been around for a while. Their debut SWANSONGS (1996) was followed by 3 albums and 1 EP. Their latest album, SERPENTINE, came in 2002 and now is time for the follow up.

Flowing Tears changed singers prior to the release of RAZORBLISS. The former vocalist, Stefanie Duchéne, left and was replaced by Helen Vogt. The guys searched a long time before they found Helen. They still wanted a female singer in order to keep their trademark sound. After 6 months of rehearsing they were ready to perform live and to write new material. Helen performed live with the band on Wave Gothic Treffen Festival 2003 and also in some single shows as a support to My Dying Bride at the famous London Astoria, England amongst others.

The material on RAZORBLISS was written more spontaneously than before and with Helen’s encouragement, the material was taken to a heavier edge than on previous albums. Flowing Tears have returned to work with their long-term producer Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, Moonspell etc. and member of Grip Inc.) in his own Woodhouse Studios. The production and sound is great and Mr. Sorychta has managed to bring out the best in the band. Flowing Tears play melancholic goth, with some influences of metal/rock. Their sound also has some sense of commercial goth as well. Helen has a very sad sounding voice that she partly shifts to make it sound more regular and she impresses a lot here. “RAZORBLISS”, “RADIUM ANGEL”, “FIREDREAM”, “SNAKES OF GREY” and “MINE IS THE OCEAN” are all goth rock’n’roll tracks with heavy guitars that grind high up in the mix. These songs have a heavy edge and have a lot of tempo changes. “BELIEVE” is one of the heavier songs on the album and they have a guest vocalist on this one with Dirk Thurisch from Angel Dust/Mercury Tide. His angrier voice works well with Helens beautiful female voice. “VIRAGO”, “UNSPOKEN” and “PITCH BLACK WATER” are typical goth rock’n’roll tracks. “BALLAD OF A LONELY GOD”, “MALADINE” and “UNDYING” are sad, melancholic goth tracks with a very sorrow-filled Helen on lead vocals taking a big part of the sound picture.

RAZORBLISS is a very well played goth metal/rock album with a lead vocalist who can handle this music style brilliantly. This album has well written material and very competent musicians. The production sounds very good and the album cover reflects the music perfectly. In short, this is a brilliant album. All of you who like goth with metal/rock influences should take a closer look at this.